Complete Communities: According to Planners and Communities

Especially since the advent of smart growth, contemporary planning practice has aspired to create complete communities characterized by mixed-use compact development. Complete communities are planned to include a diverse range of land uses, infrastructure, services, and amenities, making them adaptable to the varied needs of different people. However, engaging communities around the concept remains challenging, particularly as planners themselves wrestle with defining what makes a community truly "complete."

This presentation highlights the importance of viewing complete communities on a spectrum, emphasizing that it’s not about achieving a singular ideal, but about the degree to which a community fulfills its potential.  Explore how integrating diverse housing options, accessible transportation, and vibrant public spaces fosters social interaction and economic resilience. Focus on creating environments where people can live, work, and play nearby to understand how these communities contribute to a higher quality of life. Learn about the Glenmont Corridors Opportunity Study and how Montgomery Planning used focus groups and human-geography mapping to gauge the community’s understanding of "completeness" through a “15-minute living” lens. Leave with valuable insights into planning practices that can be applied to diverse urban and exurban settings.